Remember way back when . . . we had just elected a Mayor and County Executive that said they understood and were going to do something about poverty. Do you remember last April? (yes, a mere 5 months ago) Based on the way the budgets are going, at the moment it seems as tho they have forgotten those campaign promises. But even when it comes to non-budgetary items . . . it seems the message has not gotten through, check this out.
Today at 1:00 I went to a meeting up on the 4th floor of the City-County Building, by the time I got out of that meeting, and before I got off the 4th floor, I had heard about the “get rid of the homeless” signs that got erected while I was in the meeting. These signs are in the area between the set of doors off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. You think he’s rolling in his grave? Irony, eh?
This picture is taken looking towards the Assessors Office (towards the Capitol).
This one is taken looking towards the Parks office (towards Monona Terrace)
And here’s the close up.
In case you can’t read it . . .
NO LOITERING WHEN BUILDING IS CLOSED
Loitering means sitting on floors, stairways and doorways and having no apparent official business within the building. Loitering is a violation of the Trespass Ordinance, Madison General Ordinance Sec. 23.07(2), which makes it unlawful for any person to enter or remain on any property of another or enter or remain in any building of another after having been notified by the owner or the occupant not to enter or remain on such premises. Any violator is subject to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 plus costs.Madison Police Officers are authorized to arrest any person violating this provision without any further additional warning or notice to you.
If you are here after normal work hours, and all meetings open to the public have been adjourned, and you are NOT here on other official business, please leave the premises immediately.
My understanding was that when the city-county liaison committee met about the building rules, this was the extent of their
discussion:
O’Laughlin asks about loitering and being here without an official purpose. He is concerned about the homeless people they let sleep here.
Clear notes there is a difference between tolerated and allowed.
Miron says if they cause a disturbance they are asked to leave, otherwise allowed.
So, where did the signs come from? And when did this policy change? Who decided this?
And where did that definition of loitering come from. I don’t think we have any such loitering laws. The trespass law is accurate, mostly. So-called “loitering” isn’t a violation of the trespass ordinance that says:
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain on any property of another or to enter or remain in any building of another after having been notified by the owner or occupant not to enter or remain on such premises.
Nothing about loitering in the ordinance. Nothing about sitting. Nothing about doorways . . . or stairways . . .
What’s going on here?
Hmmm . . . on August 11th, there was this discussion at the City County Liaison Committee (but I didn’t notice, because this is what the agenda said and there was no attachments to let us know what they were talking about: City-County Building Rules and Operating Procedures – Enforcement and other security and safety protocols.) Now that I”ve read the minutes, I’m wondering, who did they work with in the 21 days between this meeting and the signs going up?
Dan Lowndes, County Risk Manager, Lt. Mark Twombly of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Carl Gloede of Madison Police Department and Marci Paulsen of City Attorney’s Office appeared before the committee to discuss proposed City County Building Rules and Operating Procedures. A staff level team met to try to incorporate protocols related to evacuation planning and other issues with the previous building rules and operating procedures, and to clarify enforcement mechanisms. The committee did not completely resolve concerns about access to the building after regular business hours. Language was added to accommodate the new concealed carry law, ie. to prohibit weapons in the CCB. The building schedule was revised to have normal hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the continuation of 24 hour access through the Wilson Street entrance primarily to accommodate Juvenile Detention Center. Capt. Gloede indicated the city would work with homeless services providers to alert them to the new enforcement policies. The staff team discussed a “common sense” policy for educating frequent building visitors to make sure they understand after hours presence is unwanted. Members of the committee indicated that working closely with the services providers was very important to them. Clear said that the CCB is not an appropriate “shelter of last resort” for the homeless.
Motion by Ald. Mark Clear, seconded by Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff to approve the language changes proposed by the staff team, with the staff team to report back to the committee on its work with the homelessness service providers.
Motion was approved.